Ostrich eggs geometry

Abstract

Precise quantification of the prof ile of egg can provide a powerful tool for the analysis of egg shape for various biological problems. A new approach to the geometry of a Ostrich's egg prof ile is presented here using an analysing the egg's digital photo by edge detection techniques. The obtained points on the eggshell counter are fitted by the Fourier series. The obtained equations describing an egg prof ile have been used to calculate radii of curvature. The radii of the curvature at the important point of the egg prof ile (sharp end, blunt end and maximum thickness) are independent on the egg shape index. The exact values of the egg surface and the egg volume have been obtained. These quantities are also independent on the egg shape index. These quantities can be successively estimated on the basis of simplified equations which are expressed in terms of the egg length, L and its width, B. The surface area of the eggshells also exhibits good correlation with the egg long circumference length. Some limitations of the most used procedures have been also shown.